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UH College of Architecture Housing New Materials Library

September 12, 2011-Houston-

When
architects and designers need insight on new, innovative materials for projects,
they often reach out to Material ConneXion. The global consulting firm provides
access to the cutting edge, contemporary building blocks that are reshaping
contemporary architecture.

Material
ConneXion has offices in New York, Italy, Germany, South Korea and Thailand. Now,
its resources can be accessed at the Materials Research Collaborative (MRC) on
the first floor of the University of Houston’s Gerald D. Hines College of
Architecture.

The
MRC provides local and regional architects, designers and students with
convenient access to Material ConneXion’s online resources and to an extensive
physical library.

“This
library essentially brings the world’s leading materials consultancy to our
college,” said Donna Kacmar, associate professor of architecture, who will
oversee the library. “It provides our students with resources that can help
them grow as materials experts. It also will allow students to receive a knowledge
base that many peers at other institutions don’t have. They will be more
competitive in the marketplace and ultimately, they will be valuable assets to
their clients.”

A
rotating collection of physical materials samples (ceramic, cement,
polymer-based, glass and metal) will be housed at the library. Students and
architects also can research materials through a comprehensive database, which
will assist in locating specific materials with unique qualities
(fire-resistant, sound absorbent, etc.).

Headquartered
in New York, Material ConneXion maintains the world’s largest library of
advanced, innovative and sustainable materials and processes. Its physical
archive contains more than 5,000 samples and serves as a resource for
architects and designers across the globe. Its team of experts includes materials
scientists and specialists who have worked with Fortune 500 companies and
national laboratories.

“This library positively impacts our students, but it
is also will be great for Houston,” Kacmar said. “When architects from Houston
need to research materials to accommodate a client’s requests, they won’t have
to fly to New York for their research. Architects from nearby cities like
Dallas or New Orleans also stand to benefit as well.”

The library’s convenient location for architects in
Houston and neighboring markets also can promote an increased use of newer,
sustainable materials, Kacmar added.

“Sometimes, using the latest materials can be cost
prohibitive or challenging due to time constraints,” she said. “Having a
library such as this on campus increases the opportunities for more designers
and builders to embrace new technologies and start using them on current projects.”

UH architecture students can utilize the MRC at no
cost. Professional architects and designers can purchase annual memberships, which
will include:

Access to the world’s largest online library of advanced, innovative
and sustainable materials and processes

Opportunities to interact with students and meet future graduates and
employees with specific expertise

The MRC’s
founding partners include Page Southerland Page, Kendall/Heaton Associates,
Gensler and Ziegler Cooper. The MRC also is supported by the Architecture
Center Houston Foundation and UH Green Building Components.